INTRODUCTION

Research design is divided into quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The researcher must decide on the most appropriate design for the type of research work (Fig. 10). The field of social sciences and education research employs a variety of quantitative research designs and methods, including experimental, correlational, survey, and quasi-experimental designs.

Quantitative research encompasses various experimental designs, including true experiments, quasi-experiments, applied behavioural analysis, and single-subject experiments. On the other hand, non-experimental quantitative research involves causal-comparative research, where the investigator compares multiple groups based on an independent variable that has already occurred, and correlational design, where investigators use correlational statistics to measure the association between variables or sets of scores.

Furthermore, these designs have evolved into more intricate relationships among variables, such as structural equation modelling, hierarchical linear modelling, and logistic regression techniques. Quantitative strategies have become more complex in recent years, with experiments featuring numerous variables and treatments, such as factorial designs and repeated measure designs. Elaborate structural equation models have also been developed to identify the collective strength of multiple variables and causal paths.

Each design has distinct characteristics and goals. In this section, we will explore these designs in-depth, providing a thorough understanding of their suitability for various research inquiries and highlighting their distinctive approaches.

Figure 10. Summarized form of Research Design Types (Asenahabi, 2019).